Lowe's Dunblane Controversy
Rupert Lowe Faces Widespread Backlash for Dunblane Massacre Comments on Joe Rogan
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Key Points
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The Dunblane inquiry helped drive major gun-control reforms in the 1990s. The Cullen Inquiry led to the 1997 Firearms (Amendment) Act banning private ownership of higher‑calibre handguns, with later expansion by the Labour government later in 1997 to include additional handguns.
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The Snowdrop Petition became a central mobilising force for gun-control in Scotland, gathering more than 750,000 signatures (reported as over 700,000 by some outlets) and helping to sustain political pressure in the wake of Dunblane.
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Casualty details underscore the scale of the tragedy: 16 children and their teacher were killed, and a further 15 children and 3 adults were wounded in the Dunblane massacre.
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Rupert Lowe’s background is more extensive than the controversy: he is MP for Great Yarmouth, a former Southampton Football Club owner, and was expelled from Reform UK; he now leads the Restore Britain party.
Rupert Lowe, leader of the Restore Britain party and MP for Great Yarmouth, has sparked widespread outrage after calling the 1996 Dunblane school massacre "one murder" on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, according to Metro and Politics Home. The attack killed 16 children and their teacher — making it the deadliest mass shooting in British history — and wounded 15 more children and 3 adults.
Lowe made the remarks while discussing Britain's handgun ban, claiming the legislation was driven by a single killing. Politicians from across the political spectrum quickly condemned the comments as factually wrong and deeply insensitive to victims and their families, The Independent reported.
What Lowe Said and Why It Caused Outrage
During his appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast, Lowe described Dunblane as "one murder" and used it to argue against Britain's handgun ban. The claim is factually wrong. On March 13, 1996, gunman Thomas Hamilton entered Dunblane Primary School and killed 16 children and one teacher before turning the gun on himself. Fifteen more children and three adults were wounded, Belfast Telegraph reported.
Scottish Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr and SNP figures swiftly condemned the remarks. Critics called the comments an insult to survivors and the families of victims, noting that the pain of Dunblane has never faded for those affected, according to Politics Home.
The Snowdrop Petition and Gun Laws That Followed
Dunblane did not just shock Britain — it changed its laws. In the aftermath, grieving families and campaigners launched the Snowdrop Petition, which gathered over 750,000 signatures. The petition kept political pressure alive and helped push parliament toward action, according to Metro.
The Conservative government passed the Firearms (Amendment) Act in 1997, banning private ownership of higher-calibre handguns. Later that same year, the incoming Labour government tightened the rules further to cover all handguns. The legislation was directly tied to the Cullen Inquiry, which investigated the Dunblane attack and made formal recommendations for reform.
Who Is Rupert Lowe and Where He Stands Now
Lowe is not a fringe figure. He sits in parliament as MP for Great Yarmouth and previously owned Southampton Football Club. He was expelled from Reform UK before founding his own party, Restore Britain, which The Evening Standard has described as far-right in its positioning.
His Rogan appearance put him before a global audience of millions. Rogan's podcast is one of the most listened-to shows in the world, and the platform has increasingly become a stage for British and American politicians seeking to bypass traditional media. The backlash suggests the move carried significant political risk for Lowe.
Why Dunblane Remains a Touchstone in British Politics
Nearly 30 years on, Dunblane still carries enormous emotional weight in Britain — especially in Scotland. Any attempt to minimise or misrepresent the attack draws an immediate and fierce reaction. Survivors, families, and campaigners have spent decades ensuring the tragedy is remembered accurately and with respect, The Independent noted.
The controversy also highlights a broader tension: politicians increasingly use platforms like Rogan's to reach new audiences, but those platforms offer less fact-checking and context than traditional interviews. Lowe's remarks went unchallenged in the moment — making the public backlash that followed all the more intense, according to Metro.
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